Manchester Metropolitan University
MSc Sport and Performance Nutrition
Manchester, United Kingdom
MSc
DURATION
1 year
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2027
TUITION FEES
GBP 21,000 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* EU and non-EU international students full-time fee
Key Summary
About: The MSc Sport and Performance Nutrition at Manchester Metropolitan University emphasizes elite sport performance and applied nutrition. You’ll learn science, practical skills and professional practice from practitioners and researchers, including staff who supported medal-winning athletes at the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Industry links and placements develop research-informed, real-world expertise in performance nutrition, sports dietetics, applied sports science and product innovation.
Career Outcomes: Graduates enter roles in elite sport, health, research and industry; employers include national sporting bodies, global food companies, local authorities and private healthcare providers. Typical roles are performance nutritionist, product development specialist, public health nutritionist, nutrition advisor, self-employed nutrition consultant and research, policy and consultancy roles.
Our MSc in Sport and Performance Nutrition is one of the few postgraduate taught courses in the UK that places a distinct emphasis on elite sport performance. Designed for those aiming to work at the forefront of sport, health, and nutrition, it offers a dynamic blend of scientific knowledge, practical application, and professional experience.
You’ll be taught by a team of expert practitioners and researchers, including those who supported medal-winning athletes at the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Our close links with industry ensure your learning is grounded in real-world excellence and the latest research developments.
Whether you’re looking for a career supporting elite athletes, influencing public health policy, or innovating within the food industry, you’ll graduate as a versatile, future-ready performance nutritionist. You’ll gain sought-after scientific and interpersonal skills, equipping you to lead in multidisciplinary, high-performance environments.
Features and benefits
- Specialist course
As one of the few taught postgraduate courses focusing on elite sport performance in the UK, you can expect a unique curriculum and specialised expertise. - 6th in the UK for sport research power
Learn alongside world-leading researchers and practitioners whose expertise in sport nutrition, performance, and disease is shaping a healthier society (REF 2021). - World-class learning environment
Develop hands-on experience with specialist facilities in our Institute of Sport – from physiology labs to performance suites and kitchens. - Connect with industry
Access opportunities to work with leading sports organisations and nutrition professionals through internships, workshops, and projects. - Stand out with professional experience
Graduate with the experience employers value most. Hone your practical skills and put theory into practice on a work placement. - A global sports city
Home to elite teams, grassroots clubs and top sports organisations, you’ll join Manchester’ vibrant sporting community and grow your professional network.
Course information
On this course, you’ll explore how performance nutrition strategies optimise training, recovery and competition across a wide range of sporting contexts. This includes elite athletes, grassroots and recreational performers. You’ll learn how evidence-based nutrition supports performance, resilience and long-term athletic development.
Sport and performance nutritionists are experts in how diet influences energy balance and adaptation. In Greater Manchester – home to a thriving sports culture and world-class facilities – you’ll be ideally placed to apply your knowledge in real sporting environments and help athletes reach their full potential.
While the focus is on maximising performance, you’ll also consider how good nutrition contributes to overall health and wellbeing – helping athletes stay fit, recover faster and sustain their careers. With performance nutrition now central to sport science worldwide, there’s a growing demand for professionals who can:
- Translate research into practice.
- Collaborate with coaches and multidisciplinary teams.
- Design strategies that drive sporting success.
This masters degree offers an immersive and hands-on learning experience. You’ll learn in world-class facilities, including cutting-edge physiology and biochemistry labs, and a bespoke performance nutrition kitchen. Through the Applied Practitioner in Sport and Exercise module, you’ll gain valuable real-world experience, developing the subject knowledge, practical skills and professional network needed to stand out in a competitive job market.
Our research-led curriculum is shaped by the latest scientific insights and strengthened by strong industry links. This offers opportunities for internships, workshops and collaborative projects with leading sports organisations and nutrition experts.
The course is also mapped to the core competencies of the Sport and Exercise Nutrition Register (SENR), ensuring you graduate with the skills and attributes required to meet industry standards and apply for registration.
Year 1
You’ll study six core modules over this one-year course, including work-based learning and your independent research project.
Core modules
- Advanced Performance Nutrition
- Professional Competencies in Performance Nutrition
- Metabolic Physiology
- Applied Skills in Performance Nutrition
- The Applied Practitioner in Sport and Exercise
- Research Project
As a sport and performance nutritionist, you’ll be equipped to make a meaningful impact – whether working with elite athletes like ballet dancers, runners or professional footballers to optimise performance and recovery, or driving change on a wider scale.
Career paths include roles such as:
- Performance nutritionist
- Product development specialist
- Public health nutritionist
- Nutrition advisor
- Self-employed nutrition consultant
You could work with sports teams, leading nutrition brands, healthcare providers or government organisations to shape policy and improve community health.
Our nutrition graduates have gone on to work for national sporting bodies, local authorities, global food companies and private healthcare providers. With growing recognition of the power of nutrition in both elite sport and public health, this course prepares you for a future where your expertise can truly make a difference.
Study
- Full-time 20% lectures, seminars or similar; 10% placement; 70% independent study
Assessment
- Full-time 100% coursework; 0% practical; 0% examination